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Continence pads and menstrual (period) pads may look similar, but they are designed for different uses.
Continence pads are specially designed for urinary incontinence, which involves the quick passing of thin urine (wee).
They’re designed to absorb much more fluid than period pads. They also reduce odour (smell) and pull moisture (wetness) away from the skin to reduce irritation (rashes etc).
Continence pads are tailored for comfort and leakage protection in everyday activities, making them useful for managing bladder (wee) leakage.
Period pads are designed for the slower flow and smaller amount of thicker period blood. They are not as absorbent as continence pads.
Using period pads for bladder (wee) leakage can lead to frequent leaks, odour (smell) issues and skin irritation.
Health professionals recommend choosing the product specifically designed for the fluid type for better hygiene, comfort and confidence.
Comparison: continence and period pads
| Feature | Continence pads | Menstrual (period) pads |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Urinary incontinence (wee leakage) | Menstrual blood flow |
| Fluid type | Thin, fast-flowing urine (wee) | Thick, slower-flowing blood |
| Absorbency | Very high (large amounts) | Small amounts (for most women, menstrual loss is less than 80mls each period cycle) |
| Core material | Super-absorbent polymers + layers | Cellulose or fibre |
| Odour (smell) control | Reduces odour (smell) | Not for urine (wee) |
| Skin protection | Keeps skin drier | Wetter against the skin if worn for urine (wee) |
| Risks if misused | Poor absorption of blood | Leakage and odour with urine (wee) |
What you can do next
- Find continence product suppliers and manufacturers in our Australia-wide directory
- Learn more about financial support for continence products including Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)
- Talk to a nurse continence specialist to find the product that’s right for you. Call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm AEDT/AEST.
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This content has been reviewed by subject matter experts in line with Continence Health Australia’s established process. Read about our clinical content review protocol.